Do you feel like a "tight string"? Do you react with irritation to every sound? Do you feel like you're constantly in "stand-by" mode? These are symptoms of sympathetic nervous system dominance. Your gas pedal is pushed to the floor. To regain balance, you need to learn how to activate the brake – the parasympathetic nervous system (vagus nerve).
Vagal Tone: The Key to Calm
The vagus nerve is the "information highway" connecting the brain to the heart, lungs, and intestines. High vagal tone means your body can quickly return to balance after stress (resilience). Low vagal tone means you "get stuck" in stress for hours.
Scientific Sources:
- Porges, S. W. (2017). "The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe".
